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		</div><p>Pet owners pay nearly £3,500 typically in the first year of owning their animal, including costs such as food, bedding, toys, equipment and insurance, a survey has found.</p>
<p>One in eight (12%) pet owners surveyed claim they love their pet more than their partner, the research from Nationwide Home Insurance found.</p>
<p>Cats were found to be cheaper than dogs in the first year, on average, with cat owners paying around £2,455 and dog owners paying £4,791 on average.</p>
<p>While the average cost of keeping a pet in the first year is £3,446, including the cost of buying the animal, the typical cost of keeping a horse for this period is £12,654.</p>
<p>A fish will cost its owner £769 in the first year, including set-up costs such as a tank and pumps, the research suggests.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, keeping a rabbit &#8211; hutch and all &#8211; will cost £1,802 in the first year, according to the survey.</p>
<p>While the average amount spent on the animal itself was found to be £147, one in five (20%) pet owners said they spend more than £250.</p>
<p>More than half (54%) of those surveyed saved up beforehand to cover the initial cost of owning a pet, the research among more than 2,300 pet owners across the UK found.</p>
<p>Nearly one in 10 (9%) pet owners use a credit card to fund the ongoing cost of their animals, while nearly two fifths (38%) dip into their savings.</p>
<p>Of those who have claimed on their home insurance due to an accident caused by a pet, 7% said the carpet had been damaged, 5% said sofas and chairs had been damaged and 5% said the TV had been broken.</p>
<p>Rob Angus, Nationwide&#8217;s head of general insurance, said: <i>&#8220;Owning an animal can be extremely rewarding, but a very expensive experience. Given a pet is for life, it&#8217;s important to plan ahead and budget for the potential costs involved, otherwise animal ownership could turn into a financial headache.&#8221;</i></p>
<p>Figures released by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) last week showed a record £706 million in pet insurance claims was paid in 2016.</p>
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